A re-recording of their independently released 2014 EP, Illinois-based thrashers Bloodletter unleash Malignancy (Wise Blood Records) once again, but this time with a leaner production, sharper guitars, and tighter, more improved performances.

Reducing the six tracks of the original release to five, ‘In These Ruined Halls… Reputation For Cruelty’ is now presented as one uninterrupted piece, the opening cut emerging with melodic electric guitar backed by a tolling bell and the cawing of flocking crows. Exploding into life with a flurry of staccato gallops and tremolo picking, frontman Peter Carparelli spits out the lyrics with venomous authority and a similarity to Tom Angelripper of Sodom and Warbringer‘s John Kevill.

The rhythm section of drummer Zach Sutton and bassist Adam Payne reinforces the unrestrained violence, ‘Blackest Mass’ featuring lead guitar nods to the school of Iron Maiden and Avenged Sevenfold while the frenzied assault of ‘Skullsplitter’ and ‘Poisonous Affair’ manage to cram an impressive amount of neck-wrecking brutality into a surprisingly short space of time. 

Coming in at almost four whole minutes, the virtually epic title track is the longest cut on the album and begins with a battery of drums and dive-bombing whammy action similar to Judas Priest‘s ‘Painkiller’ before launching into another combination of energetic riffing and agile fretwork from guitarist Pat Armamentos.

As always tends to be the case with re-recordings like this, there will always be those who prefer the original. And while there is still a lot to be said for the thick, muddy tones of that youthful and enthusiastic recording, 2022’s Malignancy is almost a different beast entirely, the same songs played with a mix of renewed vigour, experience and a clear development of skills.

Buy the EP here: https://bloodlettermetal.bandcamp.com/

8 / 10

GARY ALCOCK